New Orleans Saints (4-6) at Houston Texans (5-5)

This is the type of loss that causes fans to re-calibrate their expectations for a team that had post-season aspirations following a wild off-season spending spree that preceded the hot 4-1 start.

And it had to do with acronyms associated with human and animal waste, of the unspeakable variety.

With the offensive weapons each team has, it has the potential to be a shoot out but we’ll have to see. We couldn’t make a first down. “You just worry about the trajectory when you’re kicking a longer kick like that, and he hit it good”. Moments earlier, Palmer fell backward as he released the ball and completed a 34-yard pass to J.J. Nelson to put Arizona on the 1. The second half, we sucked.

There were a few good things, but very few. And you understand that’s going to happen when you’re playing against a guy like that.

“They’ve got guys that are making plays as a group”. The players did a awful job. “It sucked. It stunk”.

Head coach Bill O’Brien agrees. 500 as they host the Saints Sunday at NRG Stadium.

To borrow a phrase from Mora: it was a HORSE SHIT performance.

In New Orleans’ first four drives, the Texans defense held it to just 28 total yards, a pair of first downs and 0-for-4 on third down conversions. With Mercilus’ ability to contain the outside and to help out with the blitz on the quarterback, there’s no reason why he can disrupt what the Saints try to do on the ground with Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson leading the charge. Hoyer has been markedly improved on his disastrous Browns tenure in Houston, but will be a lower-end QB2 for next week’s trip to Buffalo.

And with an undefeated 11-0 Carolina Panthers team coming to town next week, things only promise to get even WORSE.

With the pressure being applied by the Texans, and then factoring in a key interception by Jackson at the goal line and a fourth down stand in the red zone, the Saints were never able to punch one into the end zone.

The Texans then finished off a long drive with another touchdown.

Today they managed only 260 yards of total offense, and got completely DOMINATED by the Texans defensive line. Ryan Griffin had his first touchdown reception of the season after missing seven games on short-term injured reserve and, combined with C.J. Fiedorowicz, combined for six receptions (on seven targets) for 92 yards. We didn’t play well enough.

“I didn’t feel like it was outside of his range, it was just a matter of whether or not he got a clean hit”, Payton said. But the Saints couldn’t move the ball and had to punt.

The Saints won the coin toss and elected to receive the football. Since losing to the Miami Dolphins 44-26, Houston has given up 29 points during a three-game winning streak to boost its record to 5-5. Houston needs him to come through with a big game this week and Watt will record at least three sacks in the game. He’s regained the terrifying form that saw him lead the Texans to wins all on his own last season, and in this year’s trash-as-hell AFC South, that might be good for a playoff berth.

It’s time for major changes out on Airline Drive.